Lines of research: Formation & Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG)

Formation & Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG)

Galaxies are formed progressively through a complex combination of gas accretion, star formation and merger processes with other galaxies. The aim of the Galaxy Formation & Evolution research line is to unveil the physical mechanisms responsible for the most significant transformations in these objects. The research team that makes up the research line is strongly involved in the development of forefront instrumentation (EMIR, FRIDA, GTCAO, HARMONI, OSIRIS, WEAVE) and has an important role in the scientific exploitation and  development of international projects (SDSS, EUCLID, LSST) for the study of the formation and evolution of galaxies.

 
The line stands out for studies on the three-dimensional structure of the Milky Way (including its system of globular clusters and satellite galaxies), the characterisation of stellar populations and dynamics of nearby galaxies, the cycle of activity of supermassive black holes at the centres of  galaxies, the conditions of the interstellar medium in the first galaxies, and the role of dark matter in their evolution. Besides, thanks to the recently created simulations group, we also aim to relate observations with theory by means of numerical models over cosmological volumes and thus obtain predictions for future observations.
  • Publication
    On the morphology of dust lanes in galactic bars
    The aim of our study is to use dynamical simulations to explore the influence of two important dynamical bar parameters, bar strength and bar pattern speed on...
  • Publication
    On the morphology of sigma-drop galaxies
    Context: Local reductions of the stellar velocity dispersion in the central regions of galaxies are known as sigma-drops (σ-drops). Knowing the origin of these...
  • Publication
    On the multiplicity of ALMA Compact Array counterparts of far-infrared bright quasars
    We present ALMA Atacama Compact Array (ACA) 870 μm continuum maps of 28 infrared-bright SDSS quasars with Herschel/SPIRE detections at redshifts 2-4, the...
  • Publication
    On the Nature of Disks at High Redshift Seen by JWST/CEERS with Contrastive Learning and Cosmological Simulations
    Visual inspections of the first optical rest-frame images from JWST have indicated a surprisingly high fraction of disk galaxies at high redshifts. Here, we...
  • Publication
    On the nature of Hα emitters at z ˜ 2 from the HiZELS survey: physical properties, Lyα escape fraction and main sequence
    We present a detailed multiwavelength study (from rest-frame ultraviolet to far-infrared) of narrow-band selected, star-forming (SF) Hα emitters (HAEs) at z ˜ 2...
  • Publication
    On the nature of the red, 2MASS-selected AGN in the local Universe I: an optical spectroscopic study
    We present optical spectra for a representative sample of 27 nearby (z 0.2) Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) with red...
  • Publication
    On the observational diagnostics to separate classical and disk-like bulges
    Flattened bulges with disk-like properties are considered to be the end product of secular evolution processes at work in the inner regions of galaxies. On the...
  • Publication
    On the origin of dwarf elliptical galaxies: the fundamental plane
    Context: Early-type dwarf (dE) galaxies are the most common type of galaxies observed in the Universe. Their study has important cosmological implications...
  • Publication
    On the Origin of Lopsidedness in Galaxies as Determined from the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G)
    We study the m = 1 distortions (lopsidedness) in the stellar components of 167 nearby galaxies that span a wide range of morphologies and luminosities. We...